SMB

[Goober]

So what is the difference between a $30.00 SMB and a $100.00 SMB? Besides the obvious. Also, I've seen the ones that will hook up to my BCD's right rear blow valve. Any thought or preferances would be great!

[dannybot]

The main differences are: oral or octo inflate, size, color and mounting choices. So you need to decide which you need, if you want something to hang from at a safety stop, then the BC mount might not work well. There are also some with a dump valve like on a lift bag. See this article: Lost (And Found) At Sea - Scuba Diving Magazine

[Duckydiver]

I use the DAN SMB. When I got it it was about $55. It has a lot of bells and whisles, litteraly. It also has octo and oral inflat. It rolls up small enough to fit in my BC pocket even though its 6 feet . It seems like one of the better SMB's.

[bjoseph]

I just looked on the DAN website. It sure looks like a nice package. It's around $80 now but the DAN website shows it out of stock.

[wheelman]

I read the article posted by dannybot a while back... I think he or someone posted in a similar thread. At that time I decided to upgrade mine, based on color and visibility. I went 6' orange/yellow combo with a dump. The dump incase I would have to use it as an alternate bouyancy device.

[RoadRacer1978]

I just bought this one for Christmas. Large Safety Stop Signal with Dump Valve , Accessories-Signaling Devices, ScubaToys, Large Safety Stop Signal with Dump Valve I haven't used any other SMB's or tried this one out yet soI can't really give a review. I did inflate it when I got it and this thing is HUGE. If I've ever lost at see you can do a search for me from space. It rolls up a little bit larger than some I have seen because of the dump valve. Thats ok though. I wanted the dump valve so it can also double as a lift bag for smaller things as I will always have it with me. Probably a little big to fit into a BCD pocket unless you have some really big pockets. The other one that looks just like the one I bought, but sells for $89.95 says that it is self sealing. Signal Marker Buoy - Large Self Sealing, Accessories: Signaling, ScubaToys, Signal Marker Buoy - Large Self Sealing I don't know what the difference is as I inflated mine at home out of the water and it held air. I had to use the dump valve to get the air out while I rolled it up. Maybe a mix up and I got the wrong one? Don't know for sure, but mine held air while dry and was not supposed to be the more expensive self sealing one.

[Goober]

Originally Posted by RoadRacer1978

I just bought this one for Christmas. Large Safety Stop Signal with Dump Valve , Accessories-Signaling Devices, ScubaToys, Large Safety Stop Signal with Dump Valve I haven't used any other SMB's or tried this one out yet soI can't really give a review. I did inflate it when I got it and this thing is HUGE. If I've ever lost at see you can do a search for me from space. It rolls up a little bit larger than some I have seen because of the dump valve. Thats ok though. I wanted the dump valve so it can also double as a lift bag for smaller things as I will always have it with me. Probably a little big to fit into a BCD pocket unless you have some really big pockets. The other one that looks just like the one I bought, but sells for $89.95 says that it is self sealing. Signal Marker Buoy - Large Self Sealing, Accessories: Signaling, ScubaToys, Signal Marker Buoy - Large Self Sealing I don't know what the difference is as I inflated mine at home out of the water and it held air. I had to use the dump valve to get the air out while I rolled it up. Maybe a mix up and I got the wrong one? Don't know for sure, but mine held air while dry and was not supposed to be the more expensive self sealing one.

The one you got is the one I'm actually looking at. So if you don't mind I have a couple of questions. I know it has a dump valve, does it or any of them have an over inflation valve like a BC does to keep it from popping? Does it have the one way large opening to fill with an octo? And last...does it have a Dring at the top so you can loop it and attach the bottom to the top with a clip?

[RoadRacer1978]

Originally Posted by Goober

The one you got is the one I'm actually looking at. So if you don't mind I have a couple of questions. I know it has a dump valve, does it or any of them have an over inflation valve like a BC does to keep it from popping? Does it have the one way large opening to fill with an octo? And last...does it have a Dring at the top so you can loop it and attach the bottom to the top with a clip?

There is no D ring at the top. So, without some type of modification you cannot hook the top to the bottom to make a horseshoe type flotation device.

As far as an overinflation device, well I'm not real sure. I would think the dump valve would act as an overinflation valve, but I would ned to test it out to see for sure. I can try this when I get home if Larry hasn't responded by then to let us all know for sure. The SMB doesn't say it is sealed at the bottom, if this is the case, you wouldn't need an overinflation valve as the excess would just come out the bottom, but like I said earlier, the thing acually held air while dry like a balloon and I used the dump valve to let the air out to roll it back up. I figured it would just roll right up and exhaust out the bottom since it wasn't sealed.

As far as a one way valve to fill with an octo, not sure. I'm not really up on the SMB lingo . This is my first SMB. The picture shows the dump valve, but it also has an inflation valve like the one on this smb. See Me Safety Signal Tube, Accessories-Flags, Trident, See Me Safety Signal Tube
The little tube type inflation valve has an end piece that you have to push in to allow air in and pops back out to seal it. That is not shown in the picture on the website. Not sure what those little tube things are called. The bottom may have a one way valve to allow air in from an octo, but I'll have to check it for sure when I get home.

When I got the delivery last friday all I did was take it out and inflate it, then roll it back up. I'll give it a more thurough inspection tonight or in the morning when I get home and give you a much more detailed report of it.

Oh, it also has the little clear pocket near the top for the glow stick to be put in for night time. And on te orange side it has the words in black going down the entire tube "DIVER BELOW". A couple other things not shown in the pic or described.

[Goober]

Thank you!

[CODMAN]

Goober, I just purchased the DAN SMB from Larry and Joe. I haven't tried it yet, but it has all that you've been mentioning and roll up small enough to fit in a BC pocket. Has a dump/overinflation valve (like on a BC). Can be orally or Octo inflated (from the bottom). Seems well made. Has a pocket at the top for a light stick. Has a pocket at the bottom for light stick, whistle, mirror (that come with it). Has a D ring at the bottom for clipping on a spool, Has reflector tape on it. I don't remember if it's self sealing though... I'll have to check. It was inexpensive (45$ I think) and had the features I wanted. Mainly to deploy it to be avoided by boats while doing a safety stop or surfacing.

Hope this helps!